On this day in 1962, Graham Hill secured the first of his two World Championships after winning the South African Grand Prix at the Prince George Circuit.
Driving for BRM, he was up against Jim Clark and Lotus for top honours. Both had three wins to their names that season, but although Hill had more points, the dropped scores system meant that the race boiled down to a case of whoever won it would take the title.
Clark took pole, shot off into the lead and was looking set to clinch it. But at three-quarters distance he was cruelly struck with an oil leak and retired from his fourth race of the season – hardly ideal when there are only nine races!
Hill took the win and with it his first championship, whilst BRM also secured the constructors’ title.
